The OECD and the New Partnership for Africa's Development

16/05/2002 - OECD Ministers and Ministers from Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal, and South Africa, had very fruitful discussions on the New Partnership for Africa's Development initiative, in Paris, on May 16, 2002. The discussions, chaired by Mr. Guy Verhofstadt, the Prime Minister of Belgium, took place in the framework of the annual meeting of the Ministerial Council of the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development.

Ministers welcomed as a promising initiative the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) with its emphasis on a comprehensive and integrated approach to development, and guided by principles of responsibility, African ownership, regional integration, economic freedom, democracy, transparency, good governance, the rule of law, stability, conflict prevention and resolution, human rights, investment in people, fight against poverty and hunger and facilitation of market access as fundamental for development.

OECD Ministers welcomed the opportunity to hear directly from their African colleagues. Their exchange of views reflects the support and importance attached by the Ministers of the OECD countries to Africa's development.

Ministers agreed that the OECD has a role to play in furthering African development. To that end they agreed more specifically:

1. To conduct further dialogue between NEPAD and OECD to determine how best to deepen mutual understanding and co-operate to advance the NEPAD initiative.

2. That the above dialogue will consider the scope for OECD-NEPAD co-operation building on existing OECD programmes, including among other things :

Enhancing African participation in existing OECD Global Forums and other outreach activities in areas such as investment, trade, good governance, the reinforcement of statistical capacities and sustainable development;

Exchanging views and experience on peer review mechanisms and the requirements necessary for African countries to effectively apply them;

Consulting in a spirit of mutual trust and partnership on best development practices, aid effectiveness and on development benefits of trade, investment, good governance and approaches to sustainable development.

OECD should work closely with other international bodies to avoid duplication of effort and achieve synergies where possible.